Illuminated vanity case



l Oct. 7, 1941.

G. M. cREssATY ILLUMINATED VANITY CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 14,v195s l w l.

GEORGE M PESSHW oct. 7, 1941. G, M CRESSATY I i 2,258,544

ILLUMINATED VANITY CASE 'I Filed June 14, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 ni." :n

Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATED VANITYCASE George M. Cressaty, New York, N. Y. Application June 14, 193s,serial No, 213,675

15 Claims.

This invention is directed to a vanity oase or the like made up insections, with the sections mounted for relative swinging movement, andincluding a lighting unit which is automatically energized anddeenergized in accordance with a predetermined swinging relation of thesections.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of `a vanity casewhich includes a body section in which the cosmetics are placed, and acover section carrying a lighting unit and mirror, the respectivesections being mounted for relative .swinging movement t move the bodysectionin aligned inteli-ltting relation with the cover section to forma compact article, or to move the body section at any angle to the coversection to exposethe mirror for use.

A further object is the provision, in the type of vanity case described,of a lighting unit, together with means for energizing the lighting unitin a predetermined swinging relation of the sections, in order that theuser, by relatively swinging the sections to a definite position, may

-obtain the use of articial illumination to assist in make-up.

A further object is the provision of an element of the `energizingcontrol of the lighting unit which may be arranged in any one of anumber of diierent positions, whereby the energizing of the lightingunit may be perfected in anyL angular relation of the sections, or whenthe `sections are extended in aligned relations. This permits theparticular vanity case to be constructedk to permit the energizing ofthe lighting unit in any relative swinging position that may bedesiredin the completed article.

A further object of the invention is the pro- Y vision of a Vanity casein which the sections are mounted for swingingv movement, with thecosmetic-carrying repectacle on the body section conveniently accessibleto the user in any position of the parts, whether fully closed, fullyopened, or at any intermediate position.

l Theinvention, in the preferred form of details, is illustrated intheaccompanying drawings, in

which: Y

Figure 1 is a planview of a vanity case constructedr in accordancewiththe invention, with the parts shown` in closed positions;

Figure'2 isas'imilar view, with the parts shown in fully open relation,the closure for the lightingun'it being omitted: to show the arrangementoff'thefparts of such unit;

Figure 3` is rasection on the line 3--3 of Figure 2li Figure 4 -isaperspectiveview of the parts of the vanity case, shown separated;

Figure 5 is a broken plan view of the cover section, the connected bodysection being shown in dotted outlineat an angle to the cover section;

` Figure 6 `isxa perspective view of the circuit closing disk formingpart of Vthe swinging joint between the sections;

Figure 'l is a diagrammatic view of the circuit for the lighting unit;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the vanity case showing a modied form Voi theinvention; y

`Figure 9 isa broken enlarged plan view, partly in section, illustratingmore particularly the control of the circuit for'thelighting unit; l

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line IU-IU of Figure 8 l Figure l1is a section on the line ll--I'I of Figure 8;V

Figure 12 is alongitudinal section through the vanity case,` with theparts in closed relation;

Figure 13 is a broken perspective view of the vanity case, with themovable sections approach ing closed positions; Vand f Figure 14 is alongitudinal sectional View of,

the lightingunt, the section being Italft'en on line Ill-I4 `of Figure.

c The vanity case, 1n the construction showninv Figures 1 to '7,inclusive, jincludes what will be "f termed a cover section I madevup ofa basev" plate ,2, ,formed at one end with an vouts"tanding housing 3 orthe lignnngunitand `centrally of with a pivot opening 5. f

p the `opposite end with a projectingear ll, formed A body, orcosmetic-'carrying section lthis in:`

the form of a hollowreceptacla the transverse dimension of which issubstantially that of the cover section, b'ut with a reducedlongitudinal dimerision. The upper Wall of the body section is formedwith an `opening having a door 'I to permit access tothe cosmeticsin thereceptacle, and this receptacle `isformed, next the lower wall, witliathreaded enlargement 8.'

The sectionsfare connected for' relative swing"- ing movement through apivot pin 9, which is' passed through the opening 5` in the ear ilu ofthe cover section and threadedjinto the enlargement 8. A switch' disk'ID is vmounted on `the pin between the ear 4 andfthe enlargement.`This! 'rheiignting unit, which is arranged in the housing 3", includesbatteries I2 and a light source 12a, said light source a socket and alamp, the former being grounded at |21. The circuit for the light sourceincludes conducting bars I3 and I4, the former of which leads throughone battery I2, which is grounded at |33. The bar I3 is also connectedto the other battery I2 and the latter grounded at I3b. The bar I4 leadsto the lamp of the light source. Fig. 7 shows a diagram of the circuitbetween the batteries and lamp. The bars I3 and I4 extend lengthwise ofthe cover section, and at the end remote from the lighting unit areturned laterally and terminate in spaced contact ends I1 arranged in thepath v of movement of the embedded contact section I I.

As the switch disk may be arranged in any angular relation to theenlargement 8 in any particular vanity case, the angular positions ofthe body section at which the lighting unit may be energized may bearranged as desired in the particular case. It is an important featureof the invention that this adjustment permits any angular relation ofthe body section to be selected as that where the lighting unit may beenergized. In other words, the control of said unit may be such as toenergize the light source at any relation of the parts other than whenclosed. -The end of the lighting unit housing 3 is preferably of arcuateoutline, as indicated at I8, and the free end of the bodysection issimilarly formed, as at I9. Thus, when the sections `are swung intoaligned closed relation, the meeting ends intert, as shown in Figure 1,to improve the appearance and render the vanity case as a whole morecompact.

y The wall ofthe lighting unit housing 3 is formed to receive a lens 20,to increase the intensity of the light from the miniature bulbnecessarily employed, and to control-the spread and direction of thebeam for proper and direct illumination of theV face of the user. Theupper `face of the base plate 2 below the housing 3 is formed orprovided with a mirror ZI, which is, of course, exposed for use when thebody section is swung from its closed relation to the cover section.

In the form shown in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, the vanity case of thisinvention is shown in' slightly modied form. Here the mirror section 22is formed as a at plate 23, with an outstanding box-like receptacle 24at one end and with a door 25 hinged at 26.

, rITwo swinging sections are connected to the covei` section, one 'suchswinging section, as 21, forming a battery case, and the other suchsection, as 23, forming a cosmetic-carrying section. The end of themirror section opposite the receptacle is formed with a pivot extension29, arranged similar to pivot sections 33 and 3| of the respectivesections 21 and 28, The sections 21; and 28 are formed as U-shapedsections in transverse section, with their open sides uppermost in thepositions shown in Figure 8. These open sides permit the sections 21 and23 to telescope over the'mirror section, as shown in Figure 13, theouter walls of the sections 21 and 2B fitting more or less snuglyagainst the outer face of the plate 23 of the cover section, and theinner or upper walls of the sections 21 and 28 being spa-ced suicientlyfrom the outer walls to permit such upper walls to t more or less snuglyover the receptacle 24 when the case is closed. The dimensions of thesections 21 and 28 transversely of the vanity case are approximately onehalf that of the mirror section 22, so that when the sections 21 andv28:- are in folded or closed` relation they completely inclose themirror section 22 and overlie the door 25, to hold the same in closedrelation.

Mounted on the interiitting pivot sections 29, 30, and 3| is aninsulating cup 32, the annular wall 33 of which is formed through itslength with a slot or recess 34, which may open through the upper edgeof the cup, but does not extend through the bottom thereof. A pivot pin35 passes centrally through the bottom of the insulating cup and throughthe interiitting sections 23, 30, and 3| to swingingly support thesections 21 and 28 relative to the cover section 22, a nut 3S securingthe inner end of the pin against outward movement.

A lamp socket 31 is carried by the outer end of the pivot pin 35, sothat one terminal of said socket is grounded for circuiting provisions.The opposite terminal of the lamp socket is connected through a strip38, engaging such terminal and extending through a channel 39 in theside wall, which leads within the lower end of the annular recess 34.The terminal of the strip 38 extends across and forms a contact abutment40 in the recess 34, as shown more particularly in Figure 9.

The section 21 -forms the lighting unit, and receives batteries 4I and42, one terminal of battery 4I being grounded and the other connected bya strip 43 with a non-similar terminal of battery 42. The oppositeterminal of battery 42 has a conducting strip 44 which extends to therecess 34 of the insulating cup 32, and is provided with a contact end45, curved concentrically with the recess 34 and designed to t movablyin such recess.

rThe lamp is thus in circuit with the batteries, with the latter inseries, said circuit being closed when the section 21 has been swung toa point to cause the contact end 45 of the strip 44 to contact with thecontact abutment 40. With the section 21 in other positions, for examplewhen it is in closed position, the lamp circuit is of course open andthe circuit is not energized.

The section 28 is designed to carry the desired cosmetics, and is formedinteriorly with a boxlike holder 43 opening through one side wall of thesection and provided with a door 41 to permit access to the cosmetics.The section has a bar extension 48 terminating in a plate-like end 49,similar to the plate-like contact 45 of the' section 21. The plate-likeend 49 also seats movably in the recess 34, the terminal of the end 49being provided with insulation to avoid electrical connection with theabutment contact 40. The plate-like ends 45 and 49 of the sections 21and 28 will, when moved to contact with the contact abutment 43, belimited in further opening movement, and in this position the lamp willbe energized.

Uninterrupted spaces 50, in the lighting unit section 21, and 5I, in thebody section 28, are provided below the batteries and cosmetic holder topermit closing movement of these sections without Vinterference from theplate 23 ofthe cover section, and both the batteries and cosmetic-yholder are sufficiently spaced from the free ends of the sections 21 and28 to provide -for reception of the box 24, when closing the parts.

The plate 23 of thecover section is formed or provided with a mirror 52,which is exposed when the sections 21 and 28 are open and covered whensuch sections are closed. The receptacle is designed for the receptionof any articles which one may desire to carry with the vanity case,

"t is, of course, apparent thatiether sectionZT or `28 may besw-ung 'toopen position independently of` the other, andthi's permits thef user,

merely by Vopening the section 28, to expose a 'partV of the mirror andposition the cosmeticholder for convenient use. Where the section 2l isopened alone, the light is .energized and may be used for any purpose.With both sections opened, the light is energized and the cosmeticholder conveniently available. It is also to be noted that, with the.vvanity case held in a natural position, either or both of the sectionsZ'l and 28 will swing to open position by gravity, and remain inlopenposition under gravital influence until manually closed. Of course, inthis type of casel it. is. impossible to use otherthanmmiaturelampsandbatteries, fand, as experience has proven that the light fromsuchsource is inefficient, it is of importance that controlled and adequatelight be provided. To this. end,the upper end of the insulating cup 32`is. provided with4 a lens 53, whichis particularly designed to collectthe light and control the spread of the beam to. aiord'A maximum lightin a beam shaped and concentrated for lighting the face of the user. Thelens also serves to close the upper end of the slot or recess 34 toprevent accidental separation of the parts movable in such recess, asmore particularly shown in vFigure l1.

It will be apparent from the above description that, in the `formillustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the lighting unit is energized in somepredetermined angular relation of the body section with the coversection, so that when the body section is in any' other angular relationto the body section the lighting unit isnot energized. Of course, byproperly positioning' the. insulating disk I0, the angular relation ofthe body and cover sections at which the light. is energized maybeselected as desired, so that the user of the vanity case may swing thebody section to that preselected position in which the circuit iscomplete and obtain artificial illumination to aid in her make-up, whileif such artificial illumination is not desired a change in. the angularrelation of the` body and coversections will deenergize the lightingunit.

It is. to be noted that, without intending `any limitation, the controlof the light source may `be more conveniently so arranged as to energizesuch source when the parts are substantially in the relations shown inFigure 5, where the body section is at an angle to the cover section. Ifthe light source is energized in substantially this relation of theparts, there will be a definite movement on the part of the user tosecure the energization of the light source. In ordinary daytime, theuser swings the parts to an aligned position, as in Figure 2. This isthe natural position, and in this position there will be no energizationof the light source. If artificial illumination is required, the userwill slightly move the body section from the naturally aligned positionsof the parts to an angular position, as shown by 6 in Figure 5, and thelight results. This tends to a more natural and comfortable useof thevanity case and of the light source.

While in both vforms of the invention illustrated and specificallydescribed, the respective sections are mounted -for a swinging movementin substantially parallel planes, it will nevertheless be obvious thatthe sections may be otherwise connected for swinging in differentplanes. In other words, the connecting means between the sections may beso arranged that the sections hinge relative to each other in theVnature of a book, or may be pivotedso: that they vmove in relativelynon-parallel planes; Under a hinged movement, `and particularly inconnection with the forms shown in Figures 1 to 7, the insulating diskwill be caused 'to move with the body member, so Vthat its contactsection is swung into the path of movement of the terminals of the`contact barsr of the lighting unit.

It will be further understood that, while a swinging movement ispreferred, the term swinging element, as employed., is intended to coverthe connecting of sections so as to cause their relative Vmovementeither as swinging in sub-` stantially parallel planes or as hinged Iformovement in planes approaching and receding from each other. Thus, theterm swinging'inc1udes hinged connection as well as pivotal connection,to` provide for theA relative movement of the sections to insure theautomatic energization and deenergization of the lighting unit inaccordance with the relative degreeof movement of the sections.

While a detailed portrayal has been given of some of the` forms theinvention may take, in

the optical as well. as in its mechanical characteristi'cs, it is' notintended to limit the invention. tothe above description. The natureof'the invention is such that it may be applied in connection with amultitude of different uses. The invention may be used lin connectionwith a multitude of compacts, vanity cases, cigarette cases, hand bags,lip stick or any other cosmetic carriers of different shapes or sizes.Various modications and changes, or rearrangement of parts, may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of.'the appended claims.

What is claimed asnew is r 1. A vanity case comprising two sections, aIlighting unit, a pivot connection between the sections to provide fortheir having relative Swinging movement in substantially parallel planeand annular means about said pivot containing a portion of an`electrical switch which is controlled in the movement of one section toenergize the lighting unitwhen it has reached va predetermined positionwith respect `to the othersection.

2. A vanity case including a lighting unit, a cover section, a bodysection, means connecting the sections to permit both sections to swingin substantially the same plane about a single axis; and a substantiallyannular member of electrical insulating material having an electricalconducting element concentric with said axis and -movable with and inresponse to the movement of the body section to automatically controlthe energization and deenergization of the lighting unit.

3. A vanity case including a lighting unit, a body section, a coversection, means for connecting the sections to permit their swingingmovement, and an insulating disk mounted on the connecting means and xedwith relation to the body section, said disk having a contact strip andcircuit terminals for the lighting unit arranged in spaced relation inthe .path of movement of the contact strip of the insulating disk.

4. A construction as defined in claim 3 wherein the insulating disk isadapted to be secured to the body section to provide varying positionsof v the contact strip whereby the closing of the circuit for thelighting unit may be perfected in any angular position of the bodysection with respect to the cover section.

5. A vantiy case including a mirror section, two cover sections, andmeans for connecting all of the sections and permitting the covers tocover the mirror section when the parts are in closed position and alight source mounted on the axis of said means.

6. A vanity case including a lighting unit and a plurality of sectionsmovable to open and closed positions, two of such sections being movableon a single pivot arranged in the longitudinal median line of the caseto independently intert with and together enclose a third sectioncontaining a mirror to provide a unit substantially the size of suchthird section.

7. A vanity -case including a mirror section, two cover sections, andmeans for connecting all of the sections for relative swinging movement,the two cover sections moving outwardly relative to each other in theiropening movement and a light source located on the axis of said means.

8. A construction as dened in claim 7 wherein the connecting means is inthe form of an insulating cup and pivot pin, the light source disposedwithin the cup and a switch in communication with the lighting unit andmovable in the insulating cup to close an electrical circuit when one ofthe cover sections has reached a predetermined open position.

9. A -vanity case including a mirror section, substantially duplicatecover sections, one Ifor holding a source of electrical energy and theother for holding cosmetics, a pivot pin uniting the sections to permitthem to swing in substantially parallel planes, an insulating cuparranged about the pivot pin and formed with an annular recess, a lampsocket carried within the insulating cup and havinga conducting stripterminating in said recess, a contact plate forming part of a circuitoperating in the recess in the cup whereby in a predetermined swingmovement of one of the cover sections the circuit will be closed.

10. A vanity case having sections, the sections being pivotallyconnected for swinging in substantially parallel planes, a mirror in oneof such Il l) sections, a light source, energizing means therefor, andmeans carried by the pivotal connection and responsive to relativeswinging movement of the sections to control the energizing means forthe light source.

11. A vanity case having swingingly connected sections mounted forrelative movement in substantially parallel planes, a lighting unit, acircuit for the lighting unit, and annular switch means rotatablymounted about the swinging connection for controlling the circuit, saidswitch means being normally open when the sections are closed or onlypartially opened, and closed when the sections are fully opened.

12. A vanity case comprising two parts mounted for relative swingingmovement in parallel planes, a lighting unit carried by one of suchparts, means for energizing the unit, and means whereby the lightingunit is automatically energized in one predetermined swinging relationof the parts less than the full swinging movement and automaticallydeenergized in Afull swinging movement of the parts.

13. A vanity case including a cover section, a body section, thesections being movable to open and closed relation, a lighting unitsection, and means for connectingv the sections for relative swingingmovement, two of the sections moving outwardly relative to each other intheir opening movement.

14. A vanity case including a lighting unit and a plurality of sectionsmovable to open and closed positions, two of such sections being movablerelative to a single pivot mounting to independently intert with andtogether inclose a third section containing a mirror to provide a unitsubstantially the size of such thirdsection.

15. YA vanity case having sections, the sections being pivotallyconnected for swinging in substantially parallel planes on a singlepivot arranged in the longitudinal median line of the sections, a lightsource in one of the sections, energizing means for the light source inone of the sections, and means arranged immediately adjacent the pivotand responsive to relative movement of the sections to control theenergizing means for the light source.

GEORGE M. CRESSATY.

